Fresh Talent: Q&A with Vanessa Lengies

Now a regular on TNT's HawthoRNe, Vanessa Lengies went veg in 2008, after a friend on the set of the A&E series The Cleaner hipped her to the health risks of eating meat. We talked with the 25-year-old actress, who appears in the September release My Suicide, about her newfound avocado obsession and experimenting with other veg fare.

Q How has your diet evolved since you first became veg?

A Initially I just bought all the packaged veg foods I could find. But pretty soon I got a stronger sense of what I should be eating, and I started making meals with fresh ingredients. One of my favorite dishes is roasted vegetablesI just put the veggies in a pan, then toss them with some olive oil, garlic, and salt before roasting. And I was never a fan of avocados, but now I love to slice them open and add a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or honey and salt.

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Q Is it hard to stick to being vegetarian on set?

A There are a lot of vegans and vegetarians on the set of HawthoRNe, which has encouraged craft service to add hummus and vegetable platters. They definitely make sure were well fed and not just getting by on chips.

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Q What's your advice for vegetarians looking to liven up their diets?

A It's great to keep experimenting. A little while ago my roommate and I cooked only Thai food for a week, trying out recipes with really yummy stuff like green papaya. And right now I'm getting into raw foodsit seems like a natural progression, since fresh fruits and veggies are such a focus for me.

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